Ya'll like it when the team runs? Imagine Alston, Francis, and McGrady on the fastbreak, with Yao as the trailer. That's how you get easy points.
Forget about Odom too, the Lakers want a real player to pair up with Kobe, the Rockets can just offer them another Kwame Brown and some more scrubs.
If we get Francis back, he will resume the leader role and lit a fire up everybody's ass like no others. I don't think Yao would mind, and Tmac's recent comment just made me hard to imagin he would ever be the leader of this team we all want him to be. Francis brings back passion, penetration, athleticism (some turnovers) this team sorely needs. And we can start the "Steve's Turnover bash threads" again, woohoo! And, and he and JVG's relationship. Oh the drama, the drama! It is going to be a much much fun way to end this dismal season. I hope he comes back, for anyone but but Yao and Tmac
We wouldn't be dealing anything to the lakers. I'm suggesting that we get into a three way deal. If the Lakers are interested in Steve (and are dangling Odom like the articles says), and Orlando is at least talking to us, then i don't see why we can't send Steve to LA, Odom here, and whatever we were going to send to Orlando there. I mean this is on the assumption that CD really is talking to the magic and they legitimately want something that we have to offer. Obviously if the rumors of us talking is BS then we can shoot down these trade proposals. But if they're real, then getting Odom would be the best result of these talks, IMO.
I certainly like Steve's personality, emotion, and general leadership abilities. I don't think his immaturity would be an issue if he came back here, but his game is a double edged sword. If Alston left in a trade, Steve would be the starting point guard and we would immediately suffer a big chemistry hit. If Alston stayed in a trade, Steve would be the starting shooting guard, and we would suffer a defensive hit. Steve's best possible role on this team would actually be sixth man, but that is impossible and ridiculous to seriously propose. There is no good solution on paper if you ask me, but maybe there is a role that could work out in reality. I have no idea. The Suns loss has me so disillusioned, I would accept anything right now.... CD must be lost right now with McGrady's health issues and the team personality.
I'm pulling a reverse-Vince-Young-fan and saying that if Stevie comes here, I will stop rooting for the Rockets. I will turn in my mini- pack and start cheering for the Spurs. I am putting my foot down on this one.
Speaking of Steve. Can someone explain to me why he isn't kicking ass with these new handcheck rules. In fact, he's actually taken a step back which makes no sense to me. Theoretically with the new rules, he should be scoring 25+ ppg, getting into the paint at will, going to the line a dozen times a game, and tossing up 2-3 alley-oops to Howard every game like he used to do with Cato. It really makes no sense to me. He should be thriving under these rules like Gilbert Arenas. I haven't seen him much since he left Houston, so can someone explain to me what the heck is going on.
I would trade Swift, Head, Anderson, and a future #1 to Orlando for Francis if they accepted. Then you're looking at a lineup of: Yao J. Howard T-Mac S.Francis R. Alston With a decent coach this lineup could win 70 games. With JVG this lineup should win 55 games, despite JVG.
The only problem is, I don't think anyone in Houston really wants Steve back. Dribblemania grew tiresome to the die hard fan, and the casual fan won't care either way. The thought of bringing Steve back gives me this nauseous feeling. Our biggest weaknesses are perimeter defense, any semblance of competence at the '4', and outside shooting. So we bring in Steve freakin Francis? Brilliant. If there's one side of this now seemingly hot story that I hope has some truth to it, it's that the Rockets a) are willing to take on a big salary and b) have enough to make it happen. I would love to bring a Lamar Odom here.
Funny thing is, I looked at some tapes of games from Rudy's last year here, with Francis and Mobley, and our offense looked a hell of alot better than it does now.
No starting lineup can win 70 with Juwan in it. Sorry, I like the guy, but he is over the hill, too slow. I'll say it til the cows come home. Lamar seems to be so much more the logical fit to me than Steve. Although if they traded DWes, Swift and whatever for Stevie and left Rafer at the point, we'd be a better team then we are now. Steve has more size and quickness than DWes. His defense did improve drastically under Van Gundy. No, he's not big, but we are running a 5'11" Wesley out there now at the SG position so Stevie would actually be a size and quickness upgrade to him. Still, I'd rather see Lamar rebounding and running up the floor with Rafer and TMac. That gives us 3 very good ball handlers on the floor and 3 exceptional passers, creators. And Lamar creates a whole lot of mismatches on the offensive end. Then we can take our MLE and invest it into a SG next year. Somebody like that bull headed Harpring from Utah. We gotta change up things, but I will be floored if it involves changing up Rafer. He's too efficient, he's the prototype JVG player at the point.
Why is "dramatic move" in quotes? Who's he quoting? Hmm. The more I think about it, the more I'm open to having Steve back. We need his fire in the worst way. Just hope he's matured a little or is willing to.
Have you ever heard of having too many hands in the cookie jar? Not that this team is focused and consistent, but I doubt Francis will improve the teams focus and consistency. You won't get many people opposed to it thought.
